Mekong Delta II - More boats, breakfast on the floating market, and backpackers

We were all up and ready to leave at 6:00. The car was waiting for us where it had dropped us off about a 10 minute walk from the homestay. Half an hour later we arrived at the riverside near the floating market. We boarded our small boat and our lady boatman had woven us crowns out of palm leaves. She led the boat expertly through the market.

First we stopped to purchase some Banh Mi (belly pork, pate, herbs and vegetable baguette) then we headed to a boat that prepared beef noodles for us. We turned our seats into a table on the boat and we were provided with huge bowls of beef noodles each. Another boat came alongside to provide us with Vietnamese coffee although Simon opted for a beer! It was only 7:30 am...

Eating the noodle soup could be perilous when one of the bigger boats went by creating a wash. We were now very full and continued through the market to a boat selling pineapple. Boats show what they are selling by hanging an example of their goods from a pole. We climbed aboard the pineapple boat and watched the lady expertly carve the pineapple into an edible 'lolly'.

Then it was back onto our small boat. Our cheerful boat lady was busy weaving her palm leaves and made us cricket bracelets, flowers, a fish mobile and giant crickets. She was very talented.

She rowed us out of the market and up a tributary to another fruit farm. This was a popular tourist spot but it was a beautiful farm. We walked through the orchards, guessing the names of the fruits and then we were given platters of fresh fruit ; papaya, mango, jack fruit and dragon fruit, to name but a few. Now, we really were full! Tung explained how the floating market was not as big as it used to be as it was easier for people to use the local land markets.

We boarded our boat again, and to prove the point, we were taken to a local land market. We were the only Westerners wandering though the narrow lanes along with scooters and motorbikes. Simon does not understand why they can't get off their bikes and walk through the market! Why do they have to ride through them?

One final boat ride back to the waiting car and it was off to Binh Thuy Ancient House, a 150 year-old residence typical for elite class (so you mean French then? - Ed) of mid-19th century in Mekong Delta.

Our morning tour was now complete and it was back to the homestay. It was still only 11:30 so another bike ride was suggested. Simon decided to stay at the Homestay whilst Hazel and I cycled off again. Apparently, it was going to be a short bike ride of 30 minutes.... we went to a very big golden Hindu temple which also housed an enormous reclining Buddha on the same site. Hazel and I were now beginning to think that Simon had the right idea as over an hour of cycling had now passed. When we finally got back to the Homestay, Simon was lounging in a reclining deck chair with an electric fan and pillows supporting his head and legs, reading his Kindle. He definitely made the right decision!

It was now time for lunch and yet another home prepared feast was laid out in front of us. So much food!

After lunch it was time for the long drive back to Ho Chi Minh City (the locals still prefer to say Saigon - Ed). We did not get back until 6pm due to the manic traffic. We went straight to Happy Hour in the club lounge at our hotel, and spent the next hour and a half drinking wine and cocktails.

After a shower we went for an explore of the Backpackers District. A pulsating street full of bars, some rather seedy. We carried on to Fashion Street, a street full of clothes shops and then we stopped for a coffee before retiring for a good long night's sleep without any early morning alarms.